Rental locker system

ABSTRACT

A rental locker system including a lock control mechanism freely removable from its installed position thereon and comprising an electrical control means supported by a support means in the lock control mechanism, a required number of electrical contact means provided on a contact board secured stationarily on a structural part of the rental locker, and a corresponding number of electrical contacting means provided on a contact board secured to the lock control mechanism thereby to be connected with the electrical control means included therein, each of the electrical contacting means on one of the two contact boards being made reciprocative and urged toward a corresponding contact means on the other contact board, whereby a good electrical connection is always assured between the electrical control means and electrical members in the rental locker through the electrical contacting means when the lock control mechanism is inserted into its position.

United States Patent Kinoshita et al.

[ Sept. 17, 1974 RENTAL LOCKER SYSTEM [73] Assignee: Glory Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha,

Hyogo-ken, Japan Filed: Apr. 2, 1973 Appl. No.: 346,881

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/1903 Lemp 70/277 X 6/1925 Grauel 10/1961 Nystuen 7/1965 Stockhouse 194/92 4 IIZQ Primary Examiner-Richard E. Moore Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Holman & Stern [57] ABSTRACT A rental locker system including a lock control mechanism freely removable from its installed position thereon and comprising an electrical control means supported by a support means in the lock control mechanism, a required number of electrical contact means provided on a contact board secured stationarily on a structural part of the rental locker, and a corresponding number of electrical contacting means provided on a contact board secured to the lock control mechanism thereby to be connected with the electrical control means included therein, each of the electrical contacting means on one of the two contact boards being made reciprocative and urged toward a corresponding contact means on the other contact board, whereby a good electrical connection is always assured between the electrical control means and electrical members in the rental locker through the electrical contacting means when the lock control mechanism is inserted into its position.

5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures RENTAL LOCKER SYSTEM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to rental locker systems, and more particularly to a type thereof wherein there is included a lock control mechanism operated electrically.

Heretofore, in a type of rental locker wherein the opening or closing operation of a compartment thereof is initited by inserting coins of a predetermined number through a coin insertion inlet, the control ofthe locking system is effected by a lock control mechanism provided in a chamber on one side of the compartment. It is often found that the lock control mechanism must be drawn out of the chamber comparatively frequently for maintenance and replacement of, for instance, the lock.

Recently, rental locker systems wherein the lock control mechanism is operated electrically have been developed. In such systems, the lock control mechanism is connected to an electric power source or a timer unit for generating a signal indicative of the termination of a rental period, both installed in a stationary part of the rental locker.

In the case where the lock control mechanism is connected directly to the power source or otherwise through electric cables or cords, the control mechanism cannot be removed completely from the chamber in which it is installed. Since the lock control mechanism must be drawn out of the chamber comparatively frequently as mentioned above, the above-mentioned incapability of the lock control mechanism of being drawn out of the chamber entirely is a disadvantage of this kind of installation. Furthermore, the electric cables or cords connecting the lock control mechanism to its power source have often constituted a source of breakdown trouble when the lock control mechanism is drawn out of thechamber comparatively frequently for maintenance and replacement of parts.

Of course, the use of a multi-conductor connector whereby the lock control mechanism can be separated from the cables or cords is readily conceivable. However, such a connector inevitably occupies space in the narrow chamber, and when the male and female parts of the connector are disposed in an opposing relation in the rear part of the chamber, the engagement between these parts is not visible to an inspector of the mechanism from outside of the locker. If the male and female parts of the connector engage inaccurately, erroneous operation of the lock control mechanism will be caused. Furthermore, the necessity of accurate alignment of the connector parts has made the insertion of the control mechanism into the chamber more difficult than in the case of no connector, and frequently the insertion thereof into the chamber has been made impossible because of misalignment between the engaging parts of the connectorQ SUMMARY or THE INVENTION In view of the above-described difficulties, a primary object of the present invention is to provide a rental locker system wherein all of the above-described drawbacks ofthe conventional system are substantially eliminated.

More specifically, an object of the invention is to provide an improved rental locker system wherein the lock control mechanism operated electrically can be drawn out of installed position without being disturbed by the accompanying cables or the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved rental Iocker system wherein the lock control mechanism can be easily inserted back into the original position without requiring any accurate alignment between the engaging parts.

These and other objects of the invention can be achieved by an improved rental locker system including a lock control mechanism freely detachable from its installed position thereon and comprising an electric control means supported by a support means in the lock control mechanism, a required number of electrical contact means provided on a contact board secured stationarily on a structural part of the rental locker, and a corresponding number of electrical contacting means provided on a contact board secured to the lock con trol mechanism and connected with the electrical control means, each of the electrical contacting means on one of the two contact boards being made reciprocative and urged toward a corresponding contact means on the other contact board, whereby a good electrical connection is always established between the electrical control means and other members in the rental locker through the electrical contacting means when the lock control mechanism is inserted into its installed position.

The nature, principle. and utility of the invention will be made apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which like parts are designated by like reference numerals.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view, with parts cut away. showing a rental locker system constituting a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of two contact boards used in the rental locker system shown in FIG. I; and

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the longitudinal axis of a contact which is urged against an opposing contact.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to FIG. 1, there is illustrated one part of a rental locker wherein a lock control mechanism generally designated by 1 is included in a chamber 5 formed on one side of a door 4 which is provided for each compartment 3 of the rental locker 2.

A base plate 6 of the lock control mechanism 1 is supported by the bottom wall of the chamber 5, and the lock control mechanism 1 is thereby made removable forward from the chamber 5.

On a front panel 9 attached to the front edge of the base plate 6, a second lock 7 and a cylindrical part 11 ofa first lock 10 are provided. The first lock 10 is used for locking the door 4 to the compartment 3, and the second lock 7 is used for locking the lock control mechanism 1 in its position after it is inserted into its position in the chamber 5.

The first lock 10 comprises an outer sheath l2 fixedly mounted on the front panel 9 and the above-mentioned cylindrical portion 11 rotatable within the sheath portion 12. When the cylindrical portion 11 is rotated by means of a key 13, a locking lever (not shown) is swung about its axis, and the door 4 of the rental locker is thereby locked or unlocked.

Furthermore, the rotation of the cylindrical portion 11 of the lock is additionally controlled by coins inserted through a coin inlet 14 also provided on the front panel 9. At the start of usage of the rental locker, a required number of coins are firstly inserted through the coin inlet 14, and after a piece of baggage, for instance, is placed in the compartment 3 of the rental locker, the cylindrical portion 11 is turned by means of a key 13 so that the door 4 of the closet 3 is locked. When a rental period is exceeded, the cylindrical portion 11 of the lock 10 is not allowed to be rotated in the door opening direction without a further insertion of a required number of coins which is indicated in a window 15 also provided on the front panel 9. A coin returning lever 16 is also provided to protrude through a slot 17 which is formed in the front panel 9.

Two side plates 8 and 8 are fixed to the base plate 6 on both sides thereof, and on a supporting plate 18 secured to one of the side plates 8 and 8, an electrical control unit 19 for controlling the above-mentioned locking lever (not shown) is provided to operate cooperatively with the lock control mechanism.

The electrical control unit 19 is operated by a switch activated by the insertion of the key 13 into the lock 10. another switch activated by the operation of the locking lever (not shown). still another switch activated by the operation of an electric motor 20 included in the lock control mechanism, and a timer switch activated by the elapse of a predetermined rental period. When the lock control mechanism 1 is operated to a certain extent. the electric motor 20 starts its operation, thereby indicating a required number of coins in the window 15 and rotating the locking lever in either of the closing and opening directions.

On the supporting plate 18 secured to the side plate 8, a contact board 21 is mounted in an oblique manner. The contact board 21 comprises an insulating plate made of. for instance, Bakelite, throuh which a required number of holes 22 are bored, and contactors 24 passing through these holes 22 in a freely reciprocating state. Each of the contactors 24 has a diametrically enlarged portion 23 at one end thereof and a coil spring 25 inserted between the enlarged portion 23 of the contactor 24 and the insulating plate whereby the contactor 24 is urged outwardly departing from the insulating plate. Each contactor 24 has an expanded portion 26 on the other end thereof, so that there is no possibility ofthe contactor 24 being pulled out of the insulating plate. The contactors 24 are connected to the electrical control unit 19 through lead wires 27.

Another contact board 28 is mounted obliquely on a supporting plate 29 secured to the main body 2 of the rental locker so that when the above-mentioned lock control mechanism 1 is inserted into its chamber in the main body 2 of the rental locker, the contact board 28 is brought into contact with the above-mentioned contact board 21.

The contact board 28 comprises also an insulating plate made of, for instance, Bakelite. and contacts 30 of a number equal to that of the contactors 24, disposed at positions thereon such that when the lock control mechanism 1 is inserted into the main body 2 ofthe rental locker, the contactors 24 of the contact board 21 automatically engage the contacts 30 of the contact board 28, whereby the electrical control unit 19 in the lock central mechanism can be connected to the power source and other control elements such as a timer and the like provided in the stationary part of the rental locker.

The rental locker system of the above-described organization operates as follows.

When the entire assembly of the lock controlling mechanism secured on the base plate 6 is to be pulled out of the chamber formed in the main body 2 of the rental locker for replacing the lock 10 or for inspecting the lock control mechanism for the purpose of maintenance, the lock 7 is first unlocked, and the entire assembly is pulled out of the chamber. At this time. the contactors 24 on the contact board 21 are disengaged from the contacts 30 of the stationary contact board 28, and the lock control mechanism 1 can be drawn out of the chamber completely.

When the lock control mechanism 1 is to be reinstalled in its original position, the base plate 6 of the lock control mechanism 1 is aligned with the opening 5 of the main body 2 of the rental locker, and the entire assembly is slipped back into its original position by simply pushing the assembly inward and finally operating the lock 7. In this state of the parts, the contactors 24 on the contact board 21 engage the contacts 30 on the contact board 28 under the elastic forces of the coiled springs 25. Since the contactors 24 have diametrically enlarged portions 23, minor displacement of the contactors 24 relative to the contacts 30 does not cause any failure in electrical connection between them.

Although the present invention has been described with respect to an embodiment thereof wherein the contactors 24 on the movable contact board 21 are made reciprocative and provided with coiled springs 25 thereby to urge the contactors 24 toward the corresponding contacts 30 on the stationary contact board 28, it is, of course, possible to provide the reciprocative contactors together with the coiled springs on the stationary contact board 28, and to provide immovable contacts on the movable contact board 21. In either of the cases. since a diametrically enlarged portion 23 is provided in each of the contactors 24, any possibility of disconnection beteen the contactors 24 and contacts 30 can be substantially eliminated even if the lock control mechanism is inserted into its position with less accuracy.

Furthermore, since both ofthe contact boards 21 and 28 are secured to the supporting plates 18 and 29 disposed obliquely to the direction of insertion of the lock control mechanism into the chamber, each of the contactors 24 is brought into contact with a corresponding one of the contacts 30 in a somewhat sliding manner, whereby any deleterious effect of dirt or dust collected on these contactors or contacts can be eliminated.

We claim:

1. A rental locker system including a lock control mechanism which is removably mounted in a chamber of the locking compartment, said system comprising an electrical control means supported by a support means mounted in the lock control mechanism, a required number of electrical contact means provided on a contact board secured stationarily to a structural part of the rental locker, and a corresponding number of electrical contacting means provided on a contact board secured to the lock control mechanism and connected with said electrical control means included therein, each of said electrical contacting means on one of the two contact boards being made reciprocative and urged against a corresponding electrical contact means on the other contact board, whereby a good electrical connection is always assured between said electrical control means and the structural side of the rental locker through said electrical contacting means when the lock control mechanism is inserted into its installed position.

2. A rental locker system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said electrical control means receives electric power from the structural side of the rental locker.

3. A rental locker system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said two contact boards are secured to their respective positions in an oblique manner relative to the inserting direction of the lock control mechanism.

contact board.

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1. A rental locker system including a lock control mechanism which is removably mounted in a chamber of the locking compartment, said system comprising an electrical control means supported by a support means mounted in the lock control mechanism, a required number of electrical contact means provided on a contact board secured stationarily to a structural part of the rental locker, and a corresponding number of electrical contacting means provided on a contact board secured to the lock control mechanism and connected with said electrical control means included therein, each of said electrical contacting means on one of the two contact boards being made reciprocative and urged against a corresponding electrical contact means on the other contact board, whereby a good electrical connection is always assured between said electrical control means and the structural side of the rental locker through said electrical contacting means when the lock control mechanism is inserted into its installed position.
 2. A rental locker system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said electrical control means receives electric power from the structural side of the rental locker.
 3. A rental locker system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said two contact boards are secured to their respective positions in an oblique manner relative to the inserting direction of the lock control mechanism.
 4. A rental locker system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said two contact boards are made of an insulating material such as Bakelite.
 5. A rental locker system as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said electrical contacting means on one of said two contact boards is provided with a diametrically enlarged portion at one end thereof, and a coiled spring is provided between the contact board and thE diametrically enlarged portion so that the enlarged end portion is urged outwardly toward said corresponding contact means provided on the other contact board. 